Monstrous Vise Find!

[Man of Many Vices]

I finally got some assembled photos, and tracked down the originals from the seller (third photo) as well. That's my 6", 185 lb. Athol 646 that it is dwarfing on the left, to add some perspective.

I finally noticed you are from Arizona.

I found a VERY large vise in a Route 66 Arizona town whose name I will keep to myself -- something about "What a fine sight to see. There's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me..."

The guy would not sell. I would have dumped all of our luggage at the nearest thrift store, and stuffed the monster in the backseat of my Prius for the 300 mile drive home to Indio.... unless that flatbed Ford and driver was available.

I'm wondering... did you take "my" monster vise? If so, don't you feel obligated to pass on the puny Athol six-incher? (It's amazing how much the six-incher shrinks in size next to the eight-incher).

Enjoy it. You have a marvooooolous collection!

Dan
Indio, CA

 

[autopts]

Greetings fellow vise aficionados! This evening I think I truly have something never before seen, a vise whose scarcity almost trumps its prodigious and titanic girth.

That Starrett/Athol isn't bad. What you could do is find someone with a mill and have him mill down the jaw area about 7/16" leaving a ledge for your replacement jaws. Find a set of jaws for the Tradesman 1780 with a 5/16 holes 4" C-C and it will be perfect.

 

[coolreed]

Congrats on the Monster Vise. Looks like you have some work to do. I would be interested in seeing the final product.

Keep us posted.

 

[gatewaysysop]

I finally noticed you are from Arizona.

I found a VERY large vise in a Route 66 Arizona town whose name I will keep to myself -- something about "What a fine sight to see. There's a girl, my Lord, in a flatbed Ford slowing down to take a look at me..."

The guy would not sell. I would have dumped all of our luggage at the nearest thrift store, and stuffed the monster in the backseat of my Prius for the 300 mile drive home to Indio.... unless that flatbed Ford and driver was available.

I'm wondering... did you take "my" monster vise? If so, don't you feel obligated to pass on the puny Athol six-incher? (It's amazing how much the six-incher shrinks in size next to the eight-incher).

Enjoy it. You have a marvooooolous collection!

Dan
Indio, CA

Nope, definitely not the same vise if that's the case. This one had been there for a long, long time from the story I got from the previous owner (passed down), and located closer to Goodyear, AZ.

Incidentally, I've been to the town you speak of, but not for many years. Got my picture on that famous corner though, for good measure.